May Go off Medication

naominash

Well-known member

In 2013, I was diagnosed with shizoaffective disorder. My last episode was May of 2016. Since then, I've responded positively to therapy and medication. But the medication had side effects. I gained weight, felt tired all the time, had slow reaction times, and became emotionally numb.

Now I am down to one medication prescription. 10mg of abilify daily. I think I am ready to stop taking it. The only side affect I experience by not taking it for a few days are lack of sleep. But this may be the key. I think lack of sleep is the one trigger for mood swings and psychosis that I have to watch for. But with sleep, I can go symptom-free even under a lot of stress.

So, I'm going to talk to my husband, buy a stock of sleep aids, and continues to pursue a healthy lifestyle. But I've always been high functioning and it's entirely possible that the illness that surfaced in my early adult years has largely gone into remission.

I don't say this lightly but I haven't experienced one psychotic symptom in years. To me, it's not worth having an unsatiable appetite if the meds are no longer necessary.

Thank you, Burt. I have actually been tapering off for several years. I used to take large doses of Lithium and spent three years slowly lowering that dosage to nothing. I used to take way more abilify too. I would have it injected into my arm or hip every month. I lowered that too.

I just don't think this dose that I'm on is the only thing separating me from relapsing, but I'll make sure to be careful.

LORD BURT

Well-known member

Thank you, Burt. I have actually been tapering off for several years. I used to take large doses of Lithium and spent three years slowly lowering that dosage to nothing. I used to take way more abilify too. I would have it injected into my arm or hip every month. I lowered that too.

I just don't think this dose that I'm on is the only thing separating me from relapsing, but I'll make sure to be careful.

Rebeca1

Well-known member

I came off my medication for schizophrenia and felt alive again but now I take some on a night with no effect but what is happening to me is really paranormal so nothing will work in my case. I hated the medication I felt like a zombie.

MHF Info

Get Social

Our friends

T4C Communities

Any advice posted on the Mental Health Forum website or forum is for support purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor, psychiatrist or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a mental health or other medical condition.

The Mental Health Forum is run by Together For Change, Suite 223, 266 Banbury Road, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX2 7DL